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Biomedical subjects

V Insler

Publications and source records attributed to V Insler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Chorionic villi sampling: choice of transcervical or transabdominal routes preferable to use of transcervical route exclusively].

Between November 1985 and June 1990 we performed 400 first trimester chorionic villi samplings (CVS). In the first 107 cases only transcervical CVS was performed, regardless of placental location. Later, 163 transcervical and 130 transabdominal CVS were performed, depending on placental location. Anterior and fundal placentas were approached transabdominally and posterior placentas transcervically. Multiple pregnancies were excluded. Successful results were obtained in 394 out of 400 cases. There were 5 failures in the first set of cases and 1 in the second (p < 0.05). In 14 cases (3.5%) fetuses with normal karyotypes were spontaneously aborted, 5 of these in the first period (4.7%) and 9 (3.1%) in the second. The spontaneous abortions in the second period followed transabdominal CVS in 4 cases out of 130 (3.1%) and the transcervical route in 5 cases out of 163 (3.105%). The average attempts per case in the first period was 1.44 (SD 0.66) while in the second it was 1.17 (SD 0.44, p < 0.0001) for the transcervical route and 1.06 (SD 0.2, p < 0.002) for the transabdominal route. In our experience choosing between transabdominal and transcervical CVS according to placental location is preferable to the sole use of transcervical CVS in terms of lower failure rate and fewer attempts per case. Proficiency in both techniques is mandatory for optimal results.

Abdomen

Endometrial morphology and hormonal profiles in in vitro fertilization patients.

Endometrial biopsy was performed in 27 infertile women participating in the IVF program. Their mean age was 31.8 years, 33% of the women being over 35 years old. The average duration of infertility was 6.9 years. The superovulation protocol consisted of hMG/hCG in 5 cases, of combined GnRH analog/gonadotropin therapy in 20 women, and 2 patients received combined contraceptive pill/gonadotropin treatment. Judging by hormonal profiles, follicular growth rate and number of oocytes retrieved, the response to stimulation was normal. The mean estradiol (E2) levels increased from 132.7 pg/ml on day -5 (SEM = 9.67) to 1272 pg/ml (SEM = 103.7) on the day of hCG administration and to 1813 pg/ml (SEM = 209.6) 1 day later. One day before the hCG application, the mean progesterone and LH levels were 1.34 ng/ml and 8.38 IU/ml, respectively. Only one patient had clinical hyperstimulation syndrome. Ova were harvested in all women, the mean number of oocytes being 7.7 (SEM = 0.83) per patient. In all 27 cases lack of fertilization or faulty ovum cleavage were observed. Thus, an endometrial biopsy (EB) was performed 72 h after oocytes retrieval. The mean estrogen and progesterone levels on the EB day were 610.9 pg/ml (SEM = 78.44) and 45.4 ng/ml (SEM = 7.53), respectively. Histologic examination of the endometrium showed normal secretory endometrium consistent with day 16-17 of spontaneous ovulatory cycle. Two women who received combined contraceptive pills/gonadotropin therapy showed inactive endometrium with subnuclear vacuoles and decidual reaction in the stroma similar to that observed in women on estrogen-progestin birth control medication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Flow velocity analysis of umbilical and uterine artery flow in pre-eclampsia treated with propranolol or pindolol.

In a double blind study, 20 gravidas with pre-eclampsia were randomly allocated to treatment with either propranolol 120 mg/day or pindolol 15 mg/day for 7 days. Flow velocimetry was performed before and after treatment to assess the influence of these two regimens of beta blocker on the feto-placental circulation. A continuous wave Doppler unit was used to measure umbilical and uterine artery flow velocity waveforms. The systolic/diastolic (A/B) ratio and the systolic minus diastolic divided by systolic (A-B)/A ratio (resistance index) were used as indexes of blood flow resistance in the umbilical and uterine arteries, respectively. A resistance to flow in the uteroplacental circulation was significantly less in patients treated with pindolol compared to those treated with propranolol (P less than 0.01). The same pattern was also found in umbilical velocimetry, although the statistical significance was borderline (P = 0.06). Although both drugs were equally effective in reducing blood pressure at rest, their effect on the peripheral resistance was different. Pindolol appears to act in part through a peripheral vascular mechanism. Our data support this assumption because the flow in the uteroplacental bed, as reflected by a decrease in resistance index, improved when patients were treated with the drug pindolol.

Adult

Early pregnancy termination: an improved technique for 'menstrual regulation' with ultrasound assistance.

We performed aspiration of early pregnancy on 100 women requesting termination, using a low caliber angled catheter under sonographic guidance, without analgesia or anesthesia. The sonographic inclusion criteria for the study were: (1) mean gestational sac diameter less than 30 mm, or (2) crown rump length less than 10 mm when an embryo was visualized. The uterine content was successfully evacuated in all cases and none needed an additional curettage. Two women developed mild endometritis which responded to antibiotic therapy. This refinement of this 'menstrual regulation' technique seems to be safer when compared with the reported results of the original technique.

Abortion, Induced

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome concomitant with spontaneous pregnancy in a woman with polycystic ovary disease.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has been described after treatment with exogenous gonadotropins, clomiphene citrate, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome has not been described before, except in association with hypothyroidism. We report on a case associated with spontaneous pregnancy, occurring in a woman with polycystic ovary disease.

Adult

Corpus luteum defects.

During the review period a number of experimental works dealing with structure and function of different cell populations constituting the corpus luteum have been published. The function of luteinizing hormone receptors and their response to luteinizing hormone stimulation at different phases of the luteal phase have been studied. The synthesis, localization, and levels within the endometrium of a series of proteins such as insulin-like growth factor I, its binding protein, placental protein 14, and CA 125 have been examined. The possible implications of these studies on normal and disturbed corpus luteum functions are briefly discussed. The clinical assessment of corpus luteum function is still neither simple nor accurate. Histologic dating of endometrial biopsy has been reexamined, showing that readings of the same slide by the same evaluator were in exact agreement only in 43.1% of instances, and the dating differences among five various evaluators were even larger. An examination of 28 young, healthy volunteers participating in a 2-month strenuous exercise program indicated that in normal women, exercise, change of living conditions, stress, or other extraneous impacts may result in menstrual disturbances affecting either the entire cycle course or the luteal phase only. However, in the majority of cases, these effects are transient. Another study established that the prolactin secretion characteristics in women with luteal phase deficiency did not differ from those observed in 36 normal, apparently ovulating women. Another clinical study showed that deficient plasma lipoprotein levels are not connected with luteal phase deficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Early miscarriage and fetal malformations after induction of ovulation (by clomiphene citrate and/or human menotropins), in vitro fertilization, and gamete intrafallopian transfer.

From the reviewed data, it appears that CC, hMG-hCG, or the association of these drugs with IVF-ET and GIFT programs do not carry an increased risk for congenital malformations as a whole, nor is there any specific malformation that has an increased incidence or is related in any way with the use of these drugs. Table 7 represents the specific malformation rate per 1,000 births in the general population and in newborns delivered after treatment with CC, hMG-hCG, or IVF-ET and GIFT. The malformation rate in the treated groups does not differ from that of the general population. However, as shown by McIntosh et al., the incidence of congenital malformations often rises with a longer follow-up. Most of the reports about babies born after ovulation induction are based on the initial examination done shortly after birth. Thus, studies including examination of these infants up to at least 12 months of age will be undoubtedly of value. Also, data concerning the reproductive capability of women born after ovulation induction is lacking. With regard to the abortion rate in pregnancies achieved after such treatments and procedures, it can be concluded that it does not appear to be higher than that of the general population, particularly when early pregnancy loss, advanced maternal age, the infertility status, and the increased incidence of multiple pregnancies occurring in these patients are taken into consideration.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian disease: new insights.

The incidence of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) varies from 0.6 to 92%, depending on the parameters analysed, PCOD has been reported to appear in association with Cushing's Syndrome, adrenal hyperplasia, hypothyroidism, adrenal and ovarian tumours and some genetic abnormalities. The controversy regarding the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the disease still persists. Critical evaluation of old data, assessment of new findings concerning the possible role of insulin, growth factors and their binding proteins, and extrapolation of neuroendocrinological experiments enabled the construction of a concise hypothesis of the pathophysiology of PCOD. According to this hypothesis, PCOD is a multifactorial disease. The sequence of events finally leading to clinical manifestation of the disease (hyperandrogenism, abnormal luteinizing hormone pulsatility pattern and ovulation disturbances) may originate in different organs or be triggered by different mechanisms. It may stem from the adrenals, the hypothalamus or higher central nervous system centres, or from the ovary itself; it may originate from excess of fat tissue usually combined with hyperinsulinism; or may be the result of a net increase in active growth factors. Each of the above disturbances probably appears early in life, much before the clinical signs of the disease are evident. Predisposing factors such as gestational diabetes of the mother, childhood obesity, borderline adrenal hyperplasia and late menarche have to be looked for as early as possible in order to prevent the late consequences of the disease, such as increased risk of infertility, endometrial and breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Female

Management of post-date pregnancy: a case control study.

Post-date pregnancy is associated with higher rates of perinatal mortality and morbidity. The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcome of 200 post-date pregnancies, managed according to our protocol, to a matched control group of 200 healthy pregnant women delivered at term. The management protocol was based mainly on the pelvic score and nonstress test. Higher rates of labor induction, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, fetal distress, instrumental deliveries and cesarean sections were found in post-date pregnancies than in the control group (40% vs. 3% P = 0.0001, 31% vs. 15.5% P = 0.00001, 18.5% vs. 9.5% P = 0.007, 8% vs. 3% P = 0.02, 12.5% vs. 4% P = 0.002 respectively). Neonatal birth weight in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group (3,484.3 +/- 410.7 vs. 3,218.4 +/- 407.8 g P less than 0.001). Despite these differences between the groups, the perinatal morbidity and mortality rates were similar. These results can be partially attributed to the early antenatal monitoring and intensive follow-up.

Apgar Score

Chlamydial IgG and IgA in serum and follicular fluid among patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation.

The point prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia was analyzed in serum and follicular fluid in 63 patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in comparison to sera of 298 healthy women by the single serovar (L2) inclusion immunoperoxidase assay (IPA). The presence of specific IgG and IgA to Chlamydia in follicular fluid was demonstrated. No statistical association was found between the presence of specific Chlamydia IgG and IgA in serum and follicular fluid to oocyte fertilization. The positive predictive value for mechanical infertility of Chlamydia IgG at titers of greater than or equal to 128 and IgA titers at greater than or equal to 16 was 91 and 92%, respectively, in this high-risk group for mechanical infertility. Multiple regression analysis singled out Chlamydia IgG levels as a major contributor to the variance between the groups of infertile patients.

Adolescent

Can premature luteinization in superovulation protocols be prevented by aspiration of an ill-timed leading follicle?

In 12 patients stimulated for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), a single leading follicle developed, whereas the other follicles were 6 mm smaller. In 7 patients chosen at random (group A), the leading follicle was aspirated, whereas in the other 5 the leading follicle was allowed to continue growing (group B). Comparison of the hormonal pattern of both groups showed that a premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge was avoided only in group A, and only in this group a second follicle aspiration for IVF-ET was done, and two pregnancies were achieved. In group B, aspiration for IVF-ET was canceled because of premature LH surge. It is suggested that aspiration of a single leading follicle during ovulation induction may be an efficient method to avoid premature LH surge enabling other follicles to develop up to the preovulatory stage.

Adult

Induction of ovulation: historical aspects.

The cornerstone of the conquest of infertility was laid in the beginning of this century. It took, however, nearly 80 years of work of many scientists from all over the globe to slowly unravel the puzzle of nature's most guarded secret, the control of the reproductive processes. The estimated population size of women between the ages 19 and 34 years in the developed world in 1990 will be about 130 million. If we assume that at least 8% will be infertile, then the pool of the infertile population will be above 10 million, with about 700,000 new patients entering this pool every year between the years 1990 and 1995. In the past only about 40% of infertile patients benefited from ovulation induction regimens. With the advent of assisted reproduction this population increased to about 80%. With the use of gonadotrophins for induction of superovulation in normally ovulating women conceptual changes in treatment regimens and monitoring schemes had to be introduced. It is obvious that the primary task of infertility clinics is to diagnose the main cause (or causes) of infertility in each couple in order to be able to institute appropriate therapy within a reasonable time. We have attempted to review briefly the regulation of follicular development, particularly with regard to new findings demonstrating the potentiating effect of growth hormone and/or various growth factors on ovarian sensitivity to FSH. This new knowledge, as well as availability of potent GnRH analogues, will evidently refine our clinical approach to treatment of functional infertility. Continuous advances in the understanding of mechanisms regulating reproductive processes and the better recognition of underlying causes of infertility will lead to the optimal choice of first-, second- and third-line routine therapies which will apply to the majority of patients. Furthermore, it will become possible to design tailor-made ovulation-inducing protocols for specific patients who do not respond properly to the routine treatment.

Adult

Role of midcycle FSH surge in follicular development.

The present study was undertaken to examine the importance of the proestrous surge of FSH for follicular development during the following cycles in the rat. The midcycle FSH surges were blocked in several consecutive cycles (1-5) by injecting proestrous rats with pentobarbital. The rats were sacrificed on the day of proestrus following the appropriate number of blocked FSH surges and their ovaries were removed for either direct measurements or for histological workout. The number and diameter of follicles were determined in the excised ovaries. Two or three cycles of barbiturate treatment reduced the number and diameter of the follicles. No large follicles (greater than 0.4 mm) were observed in the ovaries of rats in which four or five gonadotropin surges were blocked. A repeat experiment with concomitant supplementary hCG administration yielded the same results. Addition of exogenous FSH canceled the effect of pentobarbital. The cohort observed on ovaries after four cycles of treatment with pentobarbital and FSH resembled that observed in control rats. Histological measurements supported the results obtained with fresh ovaries. It is therefore suggested that in the third cycle preceding the ovulatory one, the midcycle FSH surge determines which follicles will be able to adequately develop in the following three cycles. In the cycle preceding the ovulatory one, the midcycle FSH peak 'rescues' a group of follicles and prepares them for a proper response to the FSH elevation taking place at the beginning of the subsequent ovulatory cycle. This process allows the selection of the dominant follicles which will respond by ovulation to the ensuing LH peak.

Animals